The Cabin Restoration
When we purchased our second woodland reserve in 2009 – Badgers Wood – BET acquired a semi-derelict building. This was once a garage belonging to Quarry House and was used to house the Rolls-Royce! By 2012 the garage was in a very sorry state, with the roof in imminent danger of collapse, despite being propped up by ash tree trunks. It was decided that, to save the building, urgent repair work was needed to strengthen the side walls, build a supporting front wall and replace the roof structure.
This was more easily said than done – but we are incredibly fortunate to have some very skilled and dedicated volunteers who have been working tirelessly to complete a dramatic restoration. Their hard work has included digging foundations, building a 10-foot high block wall, laying concrete and steel reinforcement along the tops of the side walls, cutting and drilling stone, welding door frames – and carefully aligning the 5 new laminated roof beams before fitting 27 curved sheets of corrugated steel.
What an achievement! You can see the fun the guys had with the roof, in Andy’s timelapse video:
In addition, overhanging trees were removed, tons of soil and other debris excavated from around the outside, and repointing of the stonework carried out. Brilliant new windows have also been supplied and fitted – all free of charge – thanks to the generosity of Brorn Windows of Congresbury. http://www.brornwindows.co.uk/
The transformation has been amazing and now, in October 2014, is complete, with new doors and the front cladding back in place. The refurbished BET Cabin will be a great base and shelter for our volunteers and participants on our events, and should now last for many more decades.
Here are some impressive before and after photos – plus pictures of the opening event and BET Members celebrating a fantastic achievement!
Enormous thanks are owed to the core team of Gerry, Andy, Don and Tony. BET would also like to thank neighbouring members David and Jean Glasson for their great support throughout the project, use of their driveway and water supply!